SANTA CRUZ – Tommy Tam’s mom was right: He should wear clothing to protect against the sun.

Tuesday, the U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Boris Lushniak cites in a report a 200 percent jump in deadly melanoma cases since 1973 and warned people to be wary of sunbathing and using indoor tanning beds. The report also went on to suggest the increased use of sun protection in outdoor settings.

Tam, 21, of San Jose was among the hundreds of people enjoying the weather at Main Beach in Santa Cruz. Tam’s said mother always told him to wear protection against the sun while playing tennis.

“I think the surgeon general was saying the same thing as my mom,” he said, adding that he’ll heed the warnings of both.

In the report, the surgeon general said state and local officials need to do more to help people cover up, such as providing more shade at parks and sporting events. Schools should encourage kids to wear hats and sunscreen and schedule outdoor activities when the sun is low in the sky. And colleges and universities should eliminate indoor tanning beds on campus much as they would prohibit tobacco use, he said.

“We need more states and institutions on board with these policies that discourage or restrict indoor tanning by our youth,” Lushniak said. “Tanned skin is damaged skin.”

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer with 9,000 people dying each year from the mostly preventable disease.

But that isn’t new to those in the medical field.

Dr. Michael Alexander, medical oncology director at Dominican Hospital, said he’s seen a number of news reports about high rates of melanoma and the regulation of sunscreen. But it helps to continue putting the message out, he said.

“It’s a good thing to keep hammering it in because obviously a lot of people aren’t listening, especially young people,” he said.

The surgeon general’s “call to action” plan is part of a broader push this year by government officials and public health advocates to raise awareness on what they say has become a major public health problem. While other cancers such as lung cancer are decreasing, skin cancer is rising rapidly. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year. And the number of Americans with skin cancer in the past three decades eclipse the number of all other cancers combined.

Dr. Andrew Calciano, a dermatologist at Dermatology Surgical and Medical Group in Santa Cruz, was more than happy the report was released.

“It’s something dermatologists have been worried about for a long time but now it feels like we’re not worrying about it on our own as much,” he said. “It just lets patients know that not only does their dermatologist think this, but it’s a health care issue just like smoking and alcohol is. It’s another high-risk behavior.”

From his own observations, Calciano has seen the rate of skin cancer rise in the 20 years since he started practicing in Santa Cruz.

“High school girls who are getting a few tanning bed treatments before prom, they’re doing a lot of damage they’re very likely going to regret some day,” he said.

Rebecca Sanders, 37, was in a two-piece swimsuit and lying out in the sun at Main Beach. Sanders said she knows that the report is right to point out the risk of too much sun. Yet she said it wasn’t going to scare her either.

“I’m not going to let it stop me from doing stuff I love,” she said, adding that she’ll still go out hiking and to the beach. “We’re going to be responsible, but I’m going to enjoy my life as well.”

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